Writing a Book-The Topic

Once you decide that you want to write a book, you need to eventually pick your topic.  When I began my first book, I wrote about my childhood.  One of my fondest memories was watching the snow fall.  So I wrote a few pages about it.  Once the pages were done, I changed topics and started writing about a prior job experience.  Then I switched gears again and thought about life after college.  One thing led to another and the character 'Cora' came to life.  I am not Cora, Grace or Leslie, (my main women characters), but there are parts of me woven in all of them.  By writing about things that were familiar to me, a character would suddenly pop into my head. 

I had NO idea where the story was headed.  I didn't edit.  I just let the story come out.  Once it began to grow legs, I created an outline.  Over time, I had to go back and clean up the beginning, but by allowing myself to simply write, I didn't impede my own writing process.  At the proper time, you can edit EVERYTHING.  By the time you are done with your book, you will have re-read every sentence more times than you can imagine.  Leave your critical hat for the editting.  When you are writing, be free.  My book did not end up about mu childhood snow days.  Yet, when my main character was in the mountains, guess what I used?  The snow scene I originally wrote many months before.  Let your topic come to you.  Play with it until it feels right.  The more you enjoy your topic, the better odss are that you will stick it out until the book is finished.

Writing a Book-Starting

I am often asked how to write a book.  Here is how the dialog typically goes,

Prospective Author, "I want to write a book, but I don't know how to start."
Marlies, "What is holding you back?"
Prospective Author, "I don't know what to write about.  How did you begin your book?"
Marlies, "The best advice I received on writing was this, just start writing."

Okay, the look on your face most likely mirrors the look I often recevie after giving this simple answer.  I am not being patronizing.  We often make things too complicated in life.  You don't need to be an English major to write a book.  You don't need to go to a class.  There is one thing that you need and that is motivation to write a book.  If you just begin and stick with it, everything else will fall into place.

When I began writing 47 Destinies, I had only dabbled in poetry, short stories and government writing.  However, I had a passion for writing.  I had never attempted dialogue, made chapters or all the other things you will eventually learn how to do.  I just started writing.  Once I finished the book, I noticed that the middle and end pieces were WAY better than the introduction.  In fact, I ended up re-writing some of the first chapters in order to clean it up!  It felt so good to see the progress I made from when I just simply took a chance and began writing.  You can do it, if you really want to do it.

Publishing Your Paperback

For those of you wanting to publish your book in a paperback version, I highly recommend working with www.createspace.com.  This company works closely with you on the myraid of details required to make your e-book into a paperback.  They have tutorials, templates and you can also pay for consulting services.  I did not use the consulting services since I have a professional Photoshop creative expert right in my family (aka-my brother Karl).  I also have a fantastic agent (Thomas) and final editor (Melanie) so I was set!

CreateSpace does not charge for any of the services until you order your first proof book.  They help you with pricing, dsitribution, royalties and everything else you never knew you needed to know.  (That sure would be a snazzy title for a book....hmmmm.)  Anyway, they have top notch customer service and are wonderful to work with on your masterpiece.  CreateSpace is also an Amazon owned company so your book is linked right on to Amazon.  Not bad, eh?

It is also print on demand so when someone buys your book, just one is printed for them.  You don't have to order 1,000 and store them in your garage! 

If you have any questions about how to make all this happen, let me know.  I am an expert with this company now!

Book #2

Yes, I am working on book #2.  I just finished Chapter 2 last night and have half of Chapter 3 written.  The characters are all the same, but the focus is on one character in particular.  I don't want to give too much away for those that haven't finished the first book.  I will tell you that it is also based mainly in San Francisco.  I have been having fun incorporating more landmarks from the city into this book.  If you love San Francisco, you are going to really enjoy this book!  As you can tell, my heart belongs to San Francisco!

Welcome to My Blog

I am excited to have a blog to share my thoughts and ideas.  Ever since I published my book, 47 Destinies, I have been on a whirlwind adventure.  I never in 5 million years had any concept of what it would take to publish a book.  I thought the writing part was the biggest challenge...boy was I wrong!  Writing the book was the easiest part.  Editing and reediting and editing again has given me nightmares.  I doubt there is such a thing as an error free book.  I apologize right now for all errors you have found in reading the book.  My paperback version is super better; however, I am sure there are still errors.  Heck, there are probably five errors in this blog alone.  Yikes.  Who is going to proof my blog?